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Developer Virgil Griffiths’ sentence has been shortened by seven months, a judge ordered this week.
Griffith was sentenced to 63 months, or about five years, in a U.S. court in April 2022. quaestor He said he violated sanctions when he visited North Korea in 2019. “Provides presentations and technical advice on how to evade sanctions using cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.”
U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel ordered Griffith’s sentence reduced to 56 months, citing challenges he faced while in prison and several “disciplinary infractions.”
“While the need to protect the public from further crimes by this defendant has somewhat waned, the court notes that defendant committed ‘rule violations’ while in BOP custody,” the judge wrote in a court filing Tuesday. “The court also notes the significant hardships defendant has suffered while incarcerated. However, the need to impose a fair penalty for this serious crime, to promote respect for the law, and to deter others from committing similar crimes weighs against a substantial reduction in sentence.”
Griffith I begged He was convicted of sanctions violations when his trial was set to begin in New York in 2021 and jury selection was set to begin. The U.S. Justice Department said Griffith knew the information he provided to North Korea could help the country evade sanctions.
Griffiths’ attorney argued in April for a lesser sentence, arguing that the defendant had no criminal record and had not caused financial hardship.
“While Mr. Griffiths has not always agreed with the government’s characterization of his actions, he understands and accepts the criminal nature of what he did, and in fact, as discussed in more detail below, has become increasingly remorseful since reflecting on his actions while in BOP custody.
His attorneys also cited other courts for violating the rules. filingGriffiths was assigned to a cell, but two days later his cellmate told him he had to leave, they said.
“Mr. Griffith was clearly desperate to avoid a fight back to the SHU and told his unit commander about this instruction,” his attorney said. “His unit commander then directed Mr. Griffith to another location until the paperwork to formally transfer him could be completed. At that point, a facility count occurred, and Mr. Griffith was not in his assigned cell at the time, violating another BOP rule.”
The government previously said Griffiths should not receive a reduced sentence because he “blatantly participated in a conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions on North Korea.” filing In response to the low verdict.
“Griffith acted knowingly and knowingly that North Korea was committing atrocities against its own people and that it posed a threat to the United States, including with its nuclear capabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Damien Williams.
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